Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Sadie giggled. “Bet you’ll change your mind when you see what pavlova is.” She jumped up and headed to the kitchen area, returning moments later with a tray of the most popular dessert in New Zealand.
Everyone turned to Celeste. “What should we expect, CB?” Hawking asked.
“It’s basically a meringue base with whipped cream and berries on top. You’ll love it.” She couldn’t keep from smiling as everyone put one of the national pastries on their plates, even the guys who’d insisted they weren’t hungry enough to eat dessert devoured the pavlova.
“Rock time,” Kestrel declared as everyone stood to clean up from dinner.
Soon, the table was cleared, and Kestrel had spread out a protective cloth before handing everyone a paper plate to work on and scattering the table with dozens of paints in little bottles. Rocks and brushes were distributed next.
Celeste knew this entire setup was meant to distract her and keep her from worrying about the interview in two days. While they painted, they took turns asking her about her work and what she thought would happen in the future.
An hour later, Celeste held up her finished rock for Daddy to see.
“An orange cat. I love it.” He showed her his. He’d covered it in several colors, making it look like a psychedelic swirl.
“That’s so pretty, Daddy,” she praised.
They gently set their rocks on a clean plate to dry, and then Celeste turned her head to look at him, hoping he would suggest she needed to go to bed now. She even yawned dramatically.
Hawking leaned over and kissed her. “Time for this Little girl to get some sleep. She’s had a very long day.” He rose and helped her from her seat. “We’ll see you all in the morning.”
Everyone waved and said their goodnights as Hawking ushered Celeste toward the elevator.
As soon as it closed, she giggled and covered her mouth. “Do you think they bought my sleepy act?”
“Not a chance, Cuddle Bug.” He pulled her into his arms. “It’s only seven-thirty. But they won’t say anything.”
She grinned up at him, too excited about being alone with her Daddy to care if anyone guessed what they might be up to instead of sleeping.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The moment Hawking had his Little girl alone in their apartment, he shut and locked the door before pressing her against it, drawing her arms over her head, and holding her against the wood while he brought his lips to hers.
Her breath hitched when he threaded their fingers together and stretched her arms higher. He loved the little gasps that escaped her mouth against his.
Hawking kissed her senseless until she was panting and whimpering. Finally, he released her lips to nibble a path toward her ear. “I think my Little girl enjoys a bit of restraint.”
She rose onto her toes and arched her chest against his without responding.
He nicked her ear with his teeth. “Yeah. She definitely does. What are we going to do about it?” He asked rhetorically while a plan formulated in his mind.
She made a cute little mewling sound.
He pulled back enough to see her face. “Should I tie you to our bed and make you come until you pass out, sated?”
Her eyes widened, but she licked her lips. “I don’t know, Daddy. That sounds kind of kinky.”
He chuckled. “Age play is pretty kinky, too, Cuddle Bug.” He lifted a brow.
She shrugged, at least as much as she could, with him still holding her arms high above her head. “I guess. I don’t know much about BDSM, though. Are you going to flog me or something?”
He shook his head. “No, Little girl. I don’t think that’s likely to be one of our kinks. I was thinking more along the lines of restraining you, blindfolding you, and then sensuously tormenting your sexy body while you writhe and beg me for release.”
She shuddered delightfully.
When he pressed his torso more fully against hers and gripped her hands tighter, she sucked in a breath. Yeah, she was interested.
“You won’t hurt me, right?”
“Never. I’ll spank you when you’re naughty because I know you need the release, but that’s the only significant impact play I’ll ever subject you to, at least without discussing some other implements first. If, down the road you decide you’d like to try floggers, we can discuss it. Tonight, I’m only interested in sensual play.”
She licked her lips. “The word I honed in on was ‘significant.’”
He chuckled. “I don’t think you’ll have any complaints if I tap your nipples or your clit when I’m teasing you.”
She hesitated a few moments before nodding. “Okay, Daddy,” she murmured, putting her trust in him. She had no idea how that made him feel, having his Little girl submit to him with every faith he would treat her like a princess.
He released her hands and swooped down to lift her hips. “Put your legs around me, Little girl.”